Report Highlights Cultural Outreach in J&K, Raises Human Rights Concerns in PoJK

Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural and economic initiatives and human rights concerns in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) have drawn attention in separate developments, with activists raising allegations of abuses by Pakistani authorities at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, according to a report by India Narrative.

The report said activists highlighted deaths, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, communications blackouts and the militarisation of civilian life in PoJK since June 5.

The concerns coincided with the fifth Jammu Film Festival in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which screened 53 films, including 41 from 16 countries and 12 from the region. The festival brought together more than 300 local artists and reportedly recorded over 12 million views on social media.

Citing the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the report said an August fact-finding mission linked the 2026 crisis in PoJK to longstanding grievances, institutional distrust and what it described as a disproportionate state response. Amnesty International had also criticised the designation of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) as a terrorist organisation, calling it a violation of freedom of association. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the Council that Pakistani authorities had used excessive lethal force and arbitrary detention to quell protests.

The report also cited economic and development figures from Jammu and Kashmir. Recognised startups in the region reportedly increased from 69 in 2020 to 1,255 by December 2025, including 434 women-led enterprises. Investment during the first nine months of FY 2025-26 was reported at ₹5,260 crore. Tourist arrivals exceeded 2.3 crore in 2024, while more than 41,000 government jobs were reportedly created since 2019. Nearly 10 lakh people were said to have received self-employment support over four years.

Across the Line of Control, residents of PoJK have continued to raise concerns over electricity costs and the prices of essential commodities, particularly wheat flour. The report noted that the Mangla reservoir generates around five billion units of electricity annually, while residents have demanded electricity tariffs closer to generation costs.